NBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Updated Picture, Schedule After Thunder Eliminate Suns
The first spherical of the NBA playoffs continued on Monday with a handful of video games.
The night time began with the Orlando Magic downing the top-seeded Detroit Pistons to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Oklahoma City Thunder later completed off a sweep of the Phoenix Suns. Here’s a take a look at what else unfolded on Monday.
Orlando Magic def. Detroit Pistons, 94-88 (ORL leads sequence 3-1)
Oklahoma City Thunder def. Phoenix Suns, 131-122 (OKC wins sequence 4-0)
Denver Nuggets def. Minnesota Timberwolves, 125-113 (MIN leads sequence 3-2)
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 pm ET (BOS leads 3-1)
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks, 8 pm ET (Series tied 2-2)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 9:30 pm ET (SAS leads sequence 3-1).
Game 4 between the Pistons and Magic as soon as once more didn’t disappoint as Orlando bought one step nearer to turning into the seventh No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed.
Before a down-to-the-wire end, Jamal Cain threw down what very nicely may very well be the dunk of the postseason over Detroit’s Jalen Duren.
The two sides went forwards and backwards for a lot of the fourth quarter, however Orlando held a three-point edge heading into the ultimate minute and a half. Desmond Bane then hit a clutch three to make it a six-point lead for the Magic with only one minute left.
After Detroit could not reply on the opposite finish, the Magic had been in a position to ice the sport on the free-throw line. Orlando’s protection thrived within the clutch, because the Pistons didn’t make a subject purpose within the last 5 minutes of play.
Bane led the way in which for the Magic with a team-high 22 factors. Cade Cunningham had 25 factors, 9 boards and 6 assists, however his eight turnovers proved to be pricey.
Detroit might want to deal with enterprise on Wednesday to keep away from a gentleman’s sweep towards the No. 8 seed.
The Suns stunned many by even reaching the playoffs in what seemed to be a rebuilding 12 months, however they had been no match for the defending champions.
OKC grew to become the primary workforce to advance to the second spherical with a reasonably simple win over Phoenix on Monday. The Thunder jumped out to an early lead and by no means allowed the Suns to get too shut, regardless of 4 of Phoenix’s 5 starters being in double figures.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as soon as once more led the way in which for his squad, posting 31 factors and eight assists to cap off an exceptional sequence.
The Thunder’s frontcourt duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein each collected double-doubles, as Holmgren had 24 factors and 12 boards, whereas Hartenstein added 18 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Thunder will proceed their quest for one more title within the second spherical towards both the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets.
Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113
The absences of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo proved to be pricey for Minnesota in Game 5.
After being blown out in Game 4, the Nuggets responded nicely to a win to make it a 3-2 sequence after a dominant second half. Denver outscored the Wolves 37-24 within the third quarter and was in a position to maintain off a late run from Minnesota within the fourth.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokić led the way in which for his squad behind a 27-point, 16-assist and 12-rebound efficiency, the form of recreation that has turn out to be the usual for the three-time MVP.
His co-star, Jamal Murray, had a strong night time with 24 factors whereas Spencer Jones posted 20, stepping up huge with Aaron Gordon sidelined.
Julius Randle did his finest to maintain Minnesota afloat with out Edwards, however his 27 factors weren’t fairly sufficient.
The Timberwolves will look to place the sequence to relaxation on Thursday, however that might be a tall job.